"At last the old kings, smarting in their subjection, banded
themselves together, resolving to assert their ancient rights in
a pitched battle. They assembled a great fleet of warships and met
the conqueror in the Hafrsfjord. In the sea fight that followed
many of Harald's bravest men were slain; spears and stones fell
about them on every side; the air was filled with the flying arrows
as with winter hail. But the king's berserks at length took on
their fury and won for their master the greatest battle that has
ever been fought in Norway. Thus, after a ten years' struggle, did
Harald fulfil his vow.

"At a feast which followed this fight his hair was cut and combed.
Men had formerly named him Harald Shockhead; but now they marvelled at
his new made beauty and called him Harald Fairhair. Then, having
done what he set out to do, he married Gyda and lived with her
until she died.

"From that day forth," continued Sigurd, "Harald Fairhair ruled
with great rigour, and so severely did he tax his people that many
of the nobler and prouder sort grew discontented and straightway
abandoned Norway to seek new homes across the sea. Many were
content to roam upon the waters as vikings; others sailed west to
the Faroe Isles, some settled in Shetland and the Orkneys, while
others went far north into Iceland--a country so rich that, as
I have heard, every blade of grass drips with butter. But Harald
followed these adventurous men who had thus sought to escape his
rule, with the result that he reduced all these islands to his
sway."

At this point of the steward's narrative the queen moved impatiently